Hurricane Florence

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The Weather Channel is already running evening long specials about Hurricane Florence with diagrams showing what a Category 4 would look like (while explaining that they're just imaginary pictures since no one knows how strong it will be when it makes landfall). They're explaining that you're better off flying into a hurricane in a propeller airplane. They're assuring us that even though Hurricane Florence is a mere Category 1 right now, it has plenty of time to get disastrously strong and then settle in and rain for days inland. They're even excited about Hurricanes Isaac and Helene, floating about in the Atlantic.

In other words, The Weather Channel is in pig heaven. I love it when they yearn for a Cat 4 and have to make due with a 2.

However for any of you who live in what could be the center of Florence, things must feel unsettled, even frightening. If any FSUers live in the area, or have friends/families there, please keep us informed. And don't let The Weather Channel get you down with its hurricane perkiness. What's a big news story for them can be a big headache for the people living through it.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Apparently, this has been upgraded to a Category 4 and expected to directly hit the Carolinas and then through the Mid-Atlantic. They are saying that condition could turn it into a Category 5 before it hits!

This is supposed to be REALLY, REALLY bad!

I've decided to start a thread to have some handy links so people can bookmark:

Weather Channel
National Weather Service
National Hurricane Center - Florence
Ready.gov

Video warning from FEMA Administer Brock Long

These states have already declared a state of emergency:
Maryland - Here is the executive order by Gov. Larry Hogan
Virginia - There will probably be an evacuation order for the Hampton Roads area soon.
North Carolina - I can't find an evacuation order, but it should come soon.
South Carolina - Evacuations and schools are officially closed in 26 counties starting tomorrow.

Weird that the District of Columbia hasn't said anything yet.

Don't forget your pets!!!! - Tips from Humane Society.

If I see anything else handy, I will post it on here.

(((FSUers in the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic)))

 

[Peaches LaTour]

I have five close relatives right in her path.

I am watching this oncoming storm very carefully via The Weather Channel & by texting with one of those relatives.

Fingers crossed that she might turn and miss landfall altogether.

 

[skatingguy]

Not too mention that there are two other named storms that seem they may take a similar path towards the US, like last year with the repeated storms through a similar path in the Caribbean.

 

[ilovepaydays]

UPDATE: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has ordered evacuations for Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore.

I live in Northern Virginia and I think we are supposed to get just massive rain - for now.

 

[Buzz]

Hope everyone in it’s path stay safe!

 

[Lacey]

My oldest DD, her DH and four of my grandsons, ages 8-16, live in Durham in north central NC. Their main potential problems with Hurricane Florence are the pine and other tall trees falling and streams and rivers flooding. DD is having a wet/dry vac delivered through Amazon tomorrow--their basement is prone to getting inches of water. But it won't do any good if power goes out. She does not have a generator. She is driving around trying to find a portable one. The stores are already out of bread and water, even the big box stores. Luckily since all 4 kids are athletes, they have some water, but not enough for a week. I hate to think how many main frame, laptops, I-pads, etc. and phones 2 parents and four boys of 2018 have that will possibly need charging for a week. And another sign that things are not normal is that neither teenager will drive for the duration, can't waste gas if they soon are not going to be able to pump it if available.

They will get a whole house generator after this. They have dealt w. snowstorms that disabled most of the rest of the city for up to 5 days because they are from up here, but this Florence hurricane is kind of a scary unknown.

She said that as of tonight, storm seems to have bumped a little east, perhaps towards VA.

Forgot, my DIL's parents, grandparent and brother live in Goldsboro, more eastern and nearer to the coast, and have a private business that could get walloped.

 

[BlueRidge]

I'm in Berlin, Germany, for the week just reading about this storm and it sounds terrifying. Looking at pictures of flooding in Alexandria from the weekend's rain while reading about how much rain the storm could bring is making me very nervous. Don't have much computer access while I am away, personally concerned about heavy rains in the Blue Ridge in Virginia, if anyone sees reports about that, posts are appreciated.

 

[Rob]

I am physically in the DC area, but my house is on the MD shore. Looks like winds/rain and not a direct hit, and we are well above the flood plain. Trying to decide whether to drive there now and bring home valuables. But it could just come up the Chesapeake Bay and hit DC if they are off so not sure which is better/worse.

 

[Simone411]

This is a public advisory for Hurricane Florence as of 11 a.m. eastern time.

Hurricane Florence Public Advisory

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for...
* Edisto Beach South Carolina to the North Carolina-Virginia border
* Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds, including the Neuse and Pamlico
Rivers

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for...
* Edisto Beach South Carolina to the North Carolina-Virginia border
* Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds

Interests elsewhere in the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states
should monitor the progress of Florence. Additional watches may be
required later today.

A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life-
threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the
coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours.
For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather
Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at
hurricanes.gov.

A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible
within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours
before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force
winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or
dangerous.

My prayers are for everyone that's on the east coast. Please stay safe!

 

[Lacey]

DD's DH had the brilliant idea last night to get a rental generator, BINGO, she got one this morning!!! She cannot afford to get more than one, so it will just be used for the wet vac, the fridge and phones if they stay. They do have a reservation at a hotel down the street. Luckily with both Duke and UNC Chapel Hill both right in the areas, there are lots of rooms available.

 

[ballettmaus]

I am physically in the DC area, but my house is on the MD shore. Looks like winds/rain and not a direct hit, and we are well above the flood plain. Trying to decide whether to drive there now and bring home valuables. But it could just come up the Chesapeake Bay and hit DC if they are off so not sure which is better/worse.

According to the WaPo, at this moment, there's a 5% chance Florence will make landfall north of the Carolinas (down from 10% yesterday) and an 80% chance she'll make landfall in the Carolinas.
It sounds like flooding is the biggest threat to the area, even more so because the ground is already saturated, plus I read that the soggy ground makes trees less stable, so they're more likely to be knocked over from strong winds.

 

[Lacey]

This morning, the generator was cancelled by the company DD called last night, they are mysteriously out of them. Spent all day worrying about what to do. We were going to meet her halfway between us in PA, where we saw generators last night at CostCo on a trip for something elser, and her in NC, but that's a lot of effort for all of us. She would have dropped off the boys at school, dashed up to VA, met us and had to get back before dismissal.

Her DH had an appointment this afternoon in another city, he was driving home, saw a Sears store, saw a guy running through the parking lot, then another, figured he would park and run too and see what all the running was about. They had 5 generators, he was 4th in line, so he got one! Now they need the red gas containers, and also gas stations are running out of gas each day, so they hope for a container or two somewhere (I told her to go to lawnmower stores) and gas for her car tomorrow. This is funny, kind of a calamity of errors, but scary.

 

[ballettmaus]

Here's the latest from the WaPo for the DC region https://www.washingtonpost.com/weat...-is-likely-stay-south/?utm_term=.175a0c1b2568

 

[once_upon]

My nephew's National Guard unit has been activated. Two of my nephews/niece in laws, 3 great nieces, my sister and brother in law, my aunt and uncle and my sister-in-law and brother-in-law live in the Carolinas.

Other than national guard unit, most are inland and expecting heavy rains.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Latest updates:

• Florence is expected to arrive to shore Thursday AM.
• Rainfall for most of Mid-Atlantic is expected to be 15 to 25 inches - with some of North Carolina getting up to 35 inches.
• State of emergency also now declared in the District of Columbia.
• College Football: Here’s the ACC Conference games that have been rescheduled, moved, or cancelled.

 

[TOADS]

If you are asked to evacuate, evacuate.

If you live along creeks or rivers in inland areas of the Carolinas and Virginia, you may see flooding that will break all records. Have a plan to leave if the forecast of torrential rainfall includes your area. Better safe than sorry.

This hurricane will not behave like a typical area that comes ashore and moves by in 12-24 hours. This storm will slow and stall and could produce heavy rains for up to 48-72 hours. This is a Harvey scenario and everyone is well aware of what happened there.

If in doubt, get the hell out.....

 

[Garden Kitty]

West Virginia state parks offering a 55% discount at their lodging options for anyone fleeing the storm.

 

[Buzz]

Are these reporters gonna leave or ride out the storm?! I hope they leave!

 

[quartz]

Are these reporters gonna leave or ride out the storm?! I hope they leave!

I hate when reporters are out in the middle of huge storms having to hold on to something to stop from blowing away, getting drenched, yelling to be heard over the wind, and possibly having something hit them. They can still show us the magnitude of a weather situation from a little more secured place.

 

[sk9tingfan]

Sitting in the Savannah airport waiting to fly home four days early. Our Hilton head resort kicked us out yesterday at 9 AM. Luckily,it took us only an hour to make it to Savannah and our hotel checked us in immediately.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Here’s a pretty cool website to check out: windy.com. Please bookmark if you want some great graphic representation and tracking of storms across the planet. It is also an app as well.

Florence still looks like it will be bad - AND SLOW! It looks like it will hit the Carolinas/Virginia coast Thursday AM but pretty much stay put and strong until Sunday PM.

Also, I work in DC (live in Arlington County, VA) and the city is expected to shut down on Saturday because the Potomac River is at flood stage right now and ground is so wet from all the recent rain we’ve had.

 

[Cachoo]

The MSNBC weatherman said if the European Model is true to form Wilmington could have four feet of rain and we are not even talking about the damage from the hurricane wind and the tornadoes that are spun off from the storm. If I lived there I would be running full speed out of the city.

 

[skatesindreams]

The Weather Channel has 17 teams following the storm.
They intend to be prepared, wherever the ultimate path.

 

[Simone411]

Are these reporters gonna leave or ride out the storm?! I hope they leave!

The reporters with Weather Channel usually stay at the location no matter how drastic it gets. In this case, however, I think they better find Noah's Ark or something similar to it and fast! 40 inches of rain over a few days is almost unimaginable. I mean the whole area will be under water worse than ever seen before. I believe even more devastating than what Katrina did to New Orleans and what Harvey did to Houston.

I hope and pray everyone evacuates because anyone that stays there more than likely won't survive. Their bodies may not even be found or located.

I was an EMD working for E-911 when Katrina and Rita hit. Both of theses hurricanes were in 2005. The devastation I saw was horrific. We even helped place people that managed to escape and survived in shelters. One such shelter was in Coushatta, La. which is only about 30 miles from where I lived. They had no time to get any of their belongings. Some of the victims had no shoes and only the clothes on their backs. We were just thankful that they managed to get away. Some did manage to get their pets and were allowed to keep them at the shelter in Coushatta. The other pets, of course, were left behind and it was horrifying. Some were rescued, but the majority of those pets died.

A bunch of us from E-911 went home and gathered clothes and shoes. We even went to stores like Family Dollar and bought men's and women's underwear. We bought bottled water, diapers … everything we could think of and brought it to the shelter in Coushatta. It was so hard to comprehend and imagine what these people had already been through, most of them cried tears of joy when they saw us.

I'm telling everyone this because I don't wish for this to happen to anyone here. Please get out of there if you can because I'm afraid for anyone that stays behind, and they may not even be able to find the bodies after the floods finally subside. Get the hell out of there any way you can!

I'm also adding a link here to website that I've known about for years - The Disaster Center.

That's exactly what the website is all about, notifications and alerts of any type of disaster.

 

[skatesindreams]

Thank you for sharing your experiences, Angie.

 

[Garden Kitty]

Explore.org which usually has great animal and nature webcams has some webcams set up in Wilmington, NC which may provide some interesting camera views.

And if the stress of the weather gets too much, you can switch to their puppy and kitten cams.

 

[Buzz]

CNN just interviewed a woman who is staying for the sake of her seven rescue dogs. Good luck to her!

 

[Catherine M]

CNN just interviewed a woman who is staying for the sake of her seven rescue dogs. Good luck to her!

That makes me sad as even if she doesn't have family/friends she can stay with, then why can't she go to a shelter with them. I know a couple that had to rescued from their roof in St. Bernard parish during the aftermath of Katrina as they had couple of dogs and couldn't take them to the shelter/hotel and so they all stayed behind. Lucky that they all survived (only reason is house was two stories; neighbor died in single story). So I wish this lady well.

 

[Vash01]

I hope people are smart enough to evacuate when they are told to. I hope they don't risk their lives by insisting on staying. This sounds like a nasty storm. Please be safe.

I think I have one relative who lives in NC but I don't know what part.